David Anderson: Lake Placid Blue Album Review: An Indie Rock Triumph

Lake Placid Blue by David Anderson is nothing short of a triumph. There is something special about every track of the album and each brings a unique charm to the album. Whatever the case though, each track definitely pays homage to one or more of the loves of David Anderson. Whether it be historical storytelling, his varied rock, country, and folk influences, or his love for California each track on Lake Placid Blue illustrates it beautifully in both lyrics and instrumentals. The album is definitely one that speaks to the experiences and breadth of musical talents he has exposed himself to.

“Charline Arthur,” the intro track of the album speaks about a woman whom he writes “taught Elvis how to shake that thing.” The instrumentals speak to the old west, a rambling cowboy-style song though with a polished feel. Decidedly not over-produced, but instead precise to a needlepoint. All the instruments seem to have an identity down to the symbol work, which is its own over the percussion entirely which unite to form a sound that is authentically western. The vocals keep the same pace and while on the softer side, the dips to deeper tones and the kicks back up especially during the chorus give an authentic rambling. The song is so well-crafted and makes an amazing first impression which the rest of the album lives up to.

“Big Star” legitimately sounds like a hit you would hear on a classic rock station. The guitar and percussion reflect the sound perfectly, but the melody is guided by a bassline too groovy to ignore for the entire song even if it may sneak by you at first. The song is not only lyrically a statement towards his experience with lines such as “I have played the father, I have played the son. I have seen completion, I have been undone,” followed by other such as “All my life I’ve been lookin’ for a sign if you wanna show me you better get in line,” almost feeling like a call out. This is echoed in the line, “if it’s all the same, then tell me who you are. If it’s all game then you must be a big star.” The ability to take a snapshot into an age of history like this, but in the form of a song is astounding. Along with the callout style of the lyrics, claiming to be there with them. In some cases, he may very well have been given his presence alongside names such as Richard Thompson or Peter Rowan.

Rock fans, country fans, folk music fans and I daresay lovers of music everywhere may come to appreciate the sounds of Lake Placid Blue. The songs in this review are only a brief idea of the musicianship and artistry laid out here. Soul, personality, and storytelling unite in this album to weave beautiful tales from the heart and mind of David Anderson. If you are a fan of any of the aforementioned genres, even remotely, this album is a must-listen.